Dignitys First Biennial Convention is held in Los Angeles

July 5, 2008

by

DignityUSA

<table border=0 cellpadding=6 cellspacing=0 width=95%> <tbody> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > <b>Theme</b></p> </td> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > &quot;The Spirit is Calling Us&quot;</p> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > <b>Dates</b></p> </td> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > August 31 to September 3 1973</p> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > <b>Major Speaker</b></p> </td> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > Father John J. McNeill S.J.</p> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > <b>Special Guest</b></p> </td> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > Father Patrick Nidorf O.S.A.</p> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > <b>Registration Fee</b></p> </td> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > $7.50</p> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > <b>Site</b></p> </td> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > Holiday Inn 1755 North Highland Avenue Hollywood California</p> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > <b>Registrations</b></p> </td> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > 300</p> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > <b>Membership</b></p> </td> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > 449</p> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > <b>Chapters</b></p> </td> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > 12</p> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > <b>Charters in Formation</b></p> </td> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > 12</p> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > <b>National Officers Elected</b></p> </td> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > The first election is held and the following slate from Dignity/Boston is elected:</p> <ul> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; > Paul A. Diederich (President)</li> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; > Rev. Thomas C. Oddo C.S.C. (Secretary)</li> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; > John E. Hart (Treasurer)</li> </ul> </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor=#FFFFCC valign=top> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > <b>Highlights</b></p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > <img alt=1973 Convention logo height=176 src=http://www.dignityusa.org/sites/default/files/images/73conv-logo.gif width=144 /></p> </td> <td> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > A provisional Constitution is drafted to be sent to members for ratification. The document includes our&nbsp;<a href=http://www.dignityusa.org/purpose style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0 0 102); text-decoration: none; ><b><i>Statement of Position and Purpose</i></b></a>.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > During the convention Father McNeill and Father Jim Fleck one of the founders of Dignity/Cincinnati rewrite the second paragraph of Bob Fournier&rsquo;s original<i>Statement of Position and Purpose</i>&nbsp;to state:</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > &quot;We believe that gays can express their sexuality in a manner that is consonant with Christ&rsquo;s teaching. We believe that all sexuality should be exercised in an ethically responsible and unselfish way.&quot;</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > The Constitution also calls for the formation of a Board of Governors comprised of two representatives (a man and a woman) from each chapter and mission and states that the three national officers (all from one chapter to facilitate their work for Dignity) should be elected by convention delegates.</p> <p style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin-right: 30px; > Delegates also vote to send letters to:</p> <ul> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; > Bishops of the United States</li> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; > Superiors of Religious Orders</li> <li style=font-family: Verdana Arial Helvetica sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; padding-bottom: 6px; > Clergy and Members of Metropolitan Community Church</li> </ul> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table>